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The Office Review: Dwight-namic Duo

"Turf War," by playing up the dynamic duo of Dwight and Jim - while reducing Andy's role to cooking cherries jubilee and making one pitch to a client - gave The Office some promise heading into next week's season finale... and then what will be an interesting offseason for the NBC hit.

With rumblings of spin-offs and departures, The Office needed all the positivity it could get, if indeed everyone involved wants it to stay on the air. As the back half of this season has gone on, I haven't been so sure that I would even want this incarnation of the show to continue for another year.

After a couple of unsurprisingly solid supporting performances by B.J. Novak and Brian Baumgartner, and then this week's improving half hour, The Office might be putting out just enough good moments to earn another season, which will then inevitably disappoint us yet again.

Even though I couldn't stand a second of time James Spader spent on screen, let's take a look at the funny and/or heartwarming moments that made "Turf Wars" one of the better Office outings as of late.

Jim and Dwight, and especially the latter, were terrific. Between the former's prank on the latter in the cold open, Dwight's disappointment in Jim for being too focused on clients to come up with zingers and everything Dwight did in the meeting with Harry, the perennial foes were just great as a team.

My favorite moment from the quick meeting in the conference room was when Dwight actually WAS thinking of things in the room to hit Harry with, which included the table leg as well as Jim's leg.

While Andy Bernard did have one moment I enjoyed this week - giving the client a key to his house - he still has continued to fail in filling the shoes of the departed Michael Scott. Unlike the many Michael comparisons the character's managing techniques received, Andy never resembled Michael to me... at all.

In the short stint that Nellie has been at the helm, she has taken on the Michael Scott Light role much more seamlessly. She has been funny at times, she's created a few awkward situations and this week she provided the most heartwarming moment. Her scene with Pam, in which Nellie was so happy to have made a friend, reminded me of so many Michael Scott moments of the past.

Repetition is not always a bad thing, especially when it reminds the audience of how good this show can be, both with comedy and with heart.

I'm not sure how The Office will end things next week, but for now, it is in a good spot moving forward. With Spader claiming that he's leaving, and hopefully more of a supporting role for Helms moving forward, The Office could be much improved next season. That is, unless Rainn Wilson jumps ship. Then The Office could be in even more trouble.

What did you all think of "Turf War?" Was it a step in the right direction? Or is The Office doomed at this point? What was the funniest moment from the episode? Check out our The Office quotes page, and then sound off in the comments.

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Simon•May 16, 2012 00:23

Didn't hate Nellie in this episode, but the storyline is still ridiculous. The whole Robert California interviews for boss, becomes boss, talks himself into the job of CEO then appoints a new boss who takes a couple of days off and is replaced by someone who walks in off the street is insulting to fans who are used to clever, silly humor.

Andrew•May 07, 2012 03:33

How original that a former Dunder Mifflin employee is starting his own paper company...

yocean•May 06, 2012 16:10

The sooner Nellie goes the better. I really don't care for humanizing her :P

Scotty•May 06, 2012 11:11

I know this would never happen, but I would love for the finale to be: The office going on strike because of the management, Jim saying, "This may be the hardest thing we will ever have to do." Then, in the last scene of the season, Michael Scott walking in with a Dundie, a heavily pregnant Holly in tow, replies, "That's what she said." Cue credits.

Scotty•May 06, 2012 11:10

I miss Michael Scott. It is just not the same without him, and I think NBC knows it. I think that it is more than a coincidence, that this episode is similar to when Mr. Scott wanted to start his own paper company, and this most recent episode being one of the more well-received of the season. People miss the old office. As much as I want this show to continue to work, it will never be the same, even more so if this spin off happens. I know NBC is trying, and that is appreciated. But it is just not the same (which could also be said of two and a half men). I am thinking this spin-off may be NBC's way of saying "The office isn't working as well, but people like Dwight, so let's try that". Maybe this is a precursor to the office being cancelled, and the spin-off being the safety net. On a side note, it seems like NBC as a whole is not what it once was. A lot of their shows seem to be slipping or getting cancelled rather quickly. I know this would never happen, but I would love for the finale to be: The office going on strike because of the management, Jim saying, "This may be the hardest thing we will ever have to do." Then, in the last scene of the season, Michael Scott walking in with a Dundie, a heavily pregnant Holly in tow, replies, "That's what she said." Cue credits.

I still think the show should have ended last year and should end this season yet they renewed it but will most likely cancel some other shows on this network that should NOT be cancelled. However this was the best episode in awhile.

Thought it was a great episode and I'm looking forward to the finale as well as next season if it goes the way I think it will. David Wallace buys the company back and fires Robert California and becomes the new CEO and fires Nellie and give Andy back the managers jobs....that's a good finale. Next season we have more David Wallace and bring in a couple of new interesting characters and replace the likes of Gabe and it could be a fresh start for a show that has struggled since Micheal Scott left.

Rob•May 04, 2012 20:12

I thought this episode was awesome. It's exactly how I remember the office. Nellie started out poorly this season (her interview in Search commitee was gold though) but she's now being "humanized" just as I remember Michael Scott's character. I'm a bit sad to see Robert California go since he's getting great again now. Oh well.

Tucker•May 04, 2012 18:38

I thought that the Robert California we saw this week was the return of the Robert California we met almost a year ago in the season finale last year, I really enjoyed his performance! I'm quite excited for Andy and for the season finale, we'll see what its all been leading up to! I also really want a followup on Angela's gay husband. Would be a nice way to end the season, right?